Variable condenser



1,652, Dec 13 1927' R. H. LANGLEY 901 VARIABLE coNDENsER Fi1ed`sept-26.1923 [Il Inventor:

Ralph HLanley, l 4 by @fw/ 3 v H s Attorr ey.

Patented Dec. 13, 1927. i

UNITED STATES "1,652,90l PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH H. LANGLEY, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL LECTRICCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VARIABLE connnnsnn'.

My invention relates to the construction of variable condenserscomprising two sets of plates in which the plates of one set areinterleaved with those ot another set and are mounted to be movedrelatively thereto. The object ot' my invention is to provide animproved construction oi the condenser- V2---2 of Fig. l; and Fig. 3 isa detail ot' oneA of the plates drawn to a larger scale.

The condenser comprising my invention is built up of two sets ot'substantially semicircular plates, a, stationary set l and a rotatableset 2, theplates ot' the two sets being interleaved and relativelyvmovable without contact. The plates comprising each set are identical.Each stationary plate is provided with three openings 3 of a size toreceive the securing means, to be describedl later, and

the material surrounding each opening isA expanded to forni oppositelyextending flanges 4 and 4: or what might be termed a double cup withportions extending equi-distantly from both sides of the plate. Theplatesmay be conveniently given the desired torin by apunchingoperation, the dies being so made that the two oppositely extendingannular anges formed in theplates have a height equal to one-half 4ofthe desired spacing of the plates. To build up the stationary element ofa condenser having plates so toi-med, the individual plates are stackedup with every alternate plate inverted and with the openings 3 inalinenient. The stack thus formed is then placed between the twoinsulation plates 6 and 7 and the three securing bolts 8 passed throughthealining openings in the condenser plates and through corresponding",openings in the insulation lates. A suitable spacing washer 9`inay beused above the top condenser plate and the set firmly secured togetherand to the insulation plates by nuts vl0. It will be noted that .bygiving each plate a double cup or double 'flange formation such asillustrated and by plates.

arranging the plates with each alternate plate inverted, correspondingflange por tions ofgadjacent plates bear against cach other. lt isunnecessary therefore that the flanges be given square edges as would bethe case were the flanges to extend to one side only of tlie plates andthe plates were to be stacked up without reversing alternate plates.With this construction the plates sci lii'inly against each other with apredeterniiued and accurate spacing.

The. plates comprising the rotatable set are each provided with a singleconcentric opening ll with the material surrounding the openings Jformedup into oppositely extending annulaitlanges just like the stationaryrlhcse'are also stacked up with each alternate plate inverted andsecured together on a spindle l2 by being clamped between a sleeve llanda nut lil. A knob 15 and dialv 16 are shown mounted onl the spindle l2as is usual.

While I have described only one einbodiment of my invention, I do notwish to be limited -to the particular form shown and described as itwill be apparent that many modilications therein may be made without ldeparting from the scope of my invention as set forth inthe appendedclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the:United States, is

1.111 a variable condenser, a series of parallel plates having alinedopenings ther-ein, a clamping member extending therethrough, said plateshaving integral spacing portions adjacent said openings and extendinglaterally from opposite sides oitl the plates, the spacing portion onone side of each plate being further from the axis of the clampingelement than the spacing portion on the opposite side.

2. In a variablecondcnser, a series of parallel plates having aliningapertures therethrough and clamping` means extending therethrough, saidplates having spacing means comprising annular llangesextending onAopposite -sidesthereof and surrounding said clamping means, thediaineter of the flange on one side ot' each plate being greater thanthe diameter of the flange on the opposite side of the same plate.

3. In a variable condenser, a series ot" parallel plates having alinedopenings therein, a clamping rod extending therethrough, said plateshaving spacing means comprising a pair of integral concentric an4 nularflanges formed therein around said openings, one of said flangesprojecting at one side of a plate and the other projecting at theopposite side thereof, said flanges having a height substantially equalto onehalf the distance between adjacent plates, the diameter of theannular flange on one side of each plate being greater than thediameterof the annular flange on the opposite side of the same plate.

4. In a variable condenser, a series of parallel plates having alinedopenings therein, a clamping rod extending through said openings, eachplate having spacing means comprising a pair of annular flanges formedintegral with thel plate around the axis of each opening, one of said.flanges projecting beyond one side of the plate and the other`projecting beyond the opposite side of the plate, the diameter of theannular flange on one side of each plate being lgreater than thediameter of the annular flange on the opposite side of the same platesaid flanges forming spacing elements for the plates. y

5. An electric condenser including a plate havinga boss on each side ofthe plate, each boss being integral with the plate and formed from themetal of the plate, a portion of the original surface of the plateappearing on each boss in a plane parallel to the plate said bosselements serving as spacing elements for the plate. f

6. An electric condenser including a series of plates, each plate havinga boss on each side thereof, each boss being integral With the plate andformed from the metal of the plate, a portion of the original surface ofthe plate appearing on each boss in a plane parallel to the plate, saidplates arranged with the axes of the boss elements coinciding andparallel With the axis of the capacitor, the boss on one plate bearingagainst the boss of the adjacent plate, said bosses serving as spacingelements for the plates, a shaft extending through said boss elements,the axis of the shaft being parallel 'to the axis of the Capacitor andmeans upon the shaft for securing said plates together by pressing theboss elements together.

7. An electric. condenser including a plate, a boss formed on each sideof said plate from the metal of the plate, the metal ofthe/plate beingfolded in one direction along the longitudinal axis of the plate andthen folded back in the opposite direction along the axis of the plateand crossing the central plane of the plate to the opposite side of theplate and there folded again along a plane at right angles to the axisof the plate. v

8. AnA electric condenser including a plate, a boss formed on each sideof said plate from the metal of the plate, the metal of the plate beingfolded in one direction along the longitudinal axis of the plate andthen folded back in the opposite direction along the axis of the plateand crossing the plane of the plate to the opposite side of the plateand folded again on the last mentioned side along a plane at rightangles to the axis of the plate, said boss being in the form of a cup,the plane through the center of the plate and parallel to the platecutting the cup between its rim and bottom, the axis of the cup beingparallel to the axis of the plane.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day ofSeptember, 1923.

RALPH H. LANGLEY.

